Miami (35-18) at Utah (35-18)
When: Wednesday, February 12th, 2020
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena,
Salt Lake City, UT
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: FS Sun
Opening Odds: Utah -4.5/219.5
Two teams with identical records will face off on Wednesday night in each club’s final game before the All-Star Break when the Miami Heat visit the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Much like their Eastern Conference counterparts the Philadelphia 76ers, the Miami Heat are a completely different team in their home and away splits. The Heat are right behind Philadelphia with a 22-3 home record (17-7-1 ATS), but are playing under .500 basketball away from Miami at 13-15 straight up and 12-15-1 against the spread. Miami is in the middle of a six-game road trip that bridges the All-Star Break and are 1-3 thus far after a 113-101 victory at the Golden State Warriors on Monday. Star guard Jimmy Butler missed the previous two games with a shoulder injury but returned to record 21 points and 10 rebounds in the triumph. Butler also had five assists for a Miami team that sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Utah has followed up a five game losing streak by winning their past three by a combined eight points after holding off the Dallas Mavericks 123-119 on Monday. The Heat go for the season sweep after a 107-104 home victory back on Dec. 23 and have won five of the past six meetings.
Butler’s return might have fueled the spark for Miami on Monday, but backup power forward Kelly Olynyk came through with an all-around solid effort with a career-best 11 assists along with 12 points and six rebounds against the Warriors. The Heat have been getting great contributions from Jae Crowder since being acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies. The veteran forward recorded 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals against Golden State and is averaging 19.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in his first two games as a Heat. Point guard Goran Dragic was the third double-digit scorer that came off the bench on Monday (six overall) and had 15 points and six assists. Miami will be at Atlanta after the break before returning home to play Cleveland.
All-Star center Rudy Gobert was on fire Monday, connecting on all seven of his field goal attempts and recorded 17 points and 16 rebounds in the win over Dallas. Guard Donovan Mitchell and forward Bojan Bogdanovich each scored 23 points, while reserve guard Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to lead the team with 25 points. Clarkson is averaging 27.5 points in this last two games while draining 7-of-15 from beyond the arc. Utah, who sits in fourth place in the Western Conference, will resume their six-game homestand versus San Antonio on Feb. 21.
Until Miami learns to win on the road consistently, I just can’t take them against good teams, like Utah. The Jazz are a solid 19-5 at home and should be able to cover this number.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Wednesday. He is 59-49-3 on the season after a 12-6 run!
Pick: Jazz -4.5
Heat are 41-20-1 ATS in their last 62 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Heat are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Heat are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Heat are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Heat are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Heat are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Heat are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Jazz are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Jazz are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS win.
Jazz are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a straight up win.
Jazz are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Jazz are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Jazz are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Jazz are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Jazz are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Jazz are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Jazz are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite.
Jazz are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a home favorite.
Jazz are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 home games.
Over is 5-0 in Heat last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-0 in Heat last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 5-1 in Heat last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Heat last 6 road games.
Over is 9-2 in Heat last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Heat last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Heat last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Over is 4-1 in Heat last 5 Wednesday games.
Under is 6-2 in Heat last 8 overall.
Over is 6-2 in Heat last 8 games following a ATS win.
Under is 6-2 in Heat last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in Heat last 8 games as an underdog.
Over is 19-7-1 in Heat last 27 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 18-7-1 in Heat last 26 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-2 in Heat last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-1 in Jazz last 7 Wednesday games.
Over is 5-1 in Jazz last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Jazz last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 5-1 in Jazz last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Jazz last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 10-3 in Jazz last 13 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 5-2 in Jazz last 7 games following a ATS win.
Over is 5-2 in Jazz last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-4 in Jazz last 13 games as a favorite.
Heat are 3-7 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
